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Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, just confirmed with us over the phone that she is considering retiring at the end of her 10th term in office.
We had called to ask her about rumors circulating in recent weeks that she would not run in 2012. This is what she just told us:
“What is true that at the end of this term, this new term, I will have completed 20 years, and I will be 75 years old. So the truth is of course I’m reassessing now. . . . I have made a commitment to my staff that I will have made a decision about my future plans sometime in early June.”
She continued saying, “We are going to have a whole bunch of capable people running for my seat if I give it up it. I want them to have a chance to get out there and let people know them.”
Last month, Woolsey, 72, won re-election for a 10th term, handily beating Rohnert Park businessman Jim Judd 66 percent to 29.7 percent. If she does step down, she said “My satisfaction is that I know it is my choice.”
Woolsey, co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has represented the 6th Congressional District since 1993. With Republicans having taken back the House, the prospects for the progressive agenda have dimmed considerably. For example, Woolsey had long hoped that a single-payer system or at least a public option would evolve out of the health care debate. Now, with the shift in power in Washington, she and other progressives are probably just hoping to hold on the reform measures passed earlier this year.
If Woolsey does step down, some of the names that have emerged as possibly making a run for her seat are Assemblyman Jared Huffman, who will be termed out in two years, State Sen. Noreen Evans, who just won the election to succeed Sen. Pat Wiggins, and Petaluma Mayor Pam Torliatt. Progressive activist Norman Solomon of Point Reyes Station also is reportedly thinking of making a run.
Two things to consider: Two recently approved state ballot propositions could have a significant impact on the next Congressional race – whether Woolsey is a candidate or not. Proposition 20 approved last month means that the 6th Congressional District will be redrawn by an independent committee that is now being selected. Proposition 14 approved in June created an open primary system. This means in the 2012 primary, the names of all the candidates will appear on the ballot and the top two will face off in the fall. This means the general election, for the first time, could include two Democrats, opening the possibility of a more moderate candidate winning the seat.
- Paul Gullixson
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If only the Republicans, like Jim Judd, and tea party types would admit it is the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that are the true cause of the record deficits, just look at the Department of War budget and you will see it eats up the majority of our tax dollars propping up puppet regimes all over the world! It is truly the “elephant” in the room! My money says Sonoma County will continue to elect a progressive democrat! If you don’t like it then leave it, to coin a phrase I have heard elsewhere!
There are some great posts here. I applaud the clear leadership of Jim Judd and Joyce Rodrigues Garcia and their attack on deficit spending.
It is very simple when it come to choosing a successor for the retiring marxist Woolsey.
Regardless of party affiliation, vote for the candidate who lays out a clear plan to cut government spending. It is that simple. In the process of removing waste at the county and state level, we will produce the funds that are needed to achieve the socialist dreams of the average Sonoman voter.
As Margaret Thatcher said, “Socialism is fine until you run out of someone else’s money”
@ Jaak Saame…..Obama, Pelosi, Reed, Frank, Soros, Rathke…..Sadly they are the rich and powerful \fiscal irresponsible Liberals who are responsible for spending us into oblivion. Do they get free passes for the damage they have created? Is it because they are pointing at someone else, can you not see all the damage they are doing to our Country? Or do you just have something against rich Republican/Conservatives?
“Another \fiscal irresponsibility\ is tax cuts for the rich, paid for by loans from China and adding to our deficit.”????
Don’t you mean its all the fiscal irresponsibility in shoving the stimulus bill, ominous bill, health care bill down our throat with the hundreds of useless earmarks and pork?
No one can get out of debt by spending money they don’t have! Not even Progressives.
@JAAK SAAME
I never brought up party lines and as far as I’m concerned the “Donkey Clan” and the “Elephant Clan” need to take a lesson in fiscal responsibility and deficit spending. You seem to be falling for the same old political game of divide and concur on the backs of the middle class. Tax cuts for the rich is the same game as “tax cuts/incentives” for subsidized farmer, so called green energy, child care, shall I go on? In any event it has to stop… it all is adding to our debt. We’re stealing from our children, it’s as simple as that and it has to stop. But just too clear up the facts, who was in control of Congress when the CEO’s and Banks where being bailed out?
Jim Judd is off base. Republicans and conservatives do not own or have any title to “fiscal responsibility”. Sadly Republicans and Conservatives have supported the rich and powerful \fiscal irresponsibility\ starting with CEOs of Banks and Hedge Funds. Another \fiscal irresponsibility\ is tax cuts for the rich, paid for by loans from China and adding to our deficit.
“CD 6 Resident” a few comments below makes a good point:
Joe Nation for Congress! He would have my vote!
Enough with the “true patriot” nonsense. We all love this country. The Tea Party does not own the rights to that term.
Of course the biggest question of all is simply who will be in which district. Thompson’s district is so convoluted by gerrymandering, I suspect there may be a major realignment of Woolsey’s and Thompson’s current districts. It will be interesting to see the results in 8 months.
Reality: Woolsey would not talk about retirement unles she is going to. Pam Torliatt is not running for CD 6, she will likely run for AD 6 (Huffman’s Assembly seat). Zane wont run because she has no shot at winning. Noreen Evans will run because she has nothing to lose. Huffman will be anointed the front runner. Former Assemblyman Joe Nation will run. If he can be one of the top two vote getters in the primary he will be elected in the general.
I say she should of retired years ago good bye dems the writing is on the wall. In order for this country to turn around we need to turn around the government. Not with rinos either. True patriots only.
I heard Norman Solomon formed an exploratory committee for the seat in 2008 and started making the rounds of elected officials and activists whispering in their ear that Woolsey was going to retire and was endorsing him to replace her. Right…
she said “My satisfaction is that I know it is my choice.”
Maybe all those signs planted a seed….LOL
Retire Woolsey
Now to plant seeds within the voters….Enough Progressives and the “D’s” and “R’s” ……Vote to save our district, California and our Nation!
Her retirement will be bitter-sweet. It would be nice to see Woolsey-free ballots, however, these crazy leftists in this county and the even crazier Marxists in Marin will overwhelmingly send an even crazier progressive to Washington to represent us.
Maybe the next representative will be able to beat those fantastic 11% approval ratings!
If you could get Huffman, Evans or Zane, for that matter any progressive liberal to verbalize “fiscal responsibility” or ‘I’m against deficient spending” and actually mean it let alone practice it, we may have a conservative democrat. Sadly none of them fit the mold!
Thank you Lynn for your service to our communities. Enjoy a long, healthy and happy retirement.
Halleluja! She needs to leave.
Thanks for representing the liberal/progressive 66% in our county (see article). You will be missed by most residents, just not the conservatives who seem to post inordinately. “Here’s our chance” yeah right, to do what, further transfer our wealth to the ruling elite (who just got a pointless, expensive tax cut)?
I like the way you stood up for what you (and your electors) believed in, regardless of whether it was the mainstream Democratic position.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am running out of alka seltzer The very worst represenative in my lifetime.
The poster child for an ineffective congresswomen.
I wonder if John Sawyer will consider running.
Still too far off. Any guesses about who will be running for her seat from her party?
I hope she doe’s step down! I spoke with her once on the phone and she was very rude.
We can only hope!
Conservatives…get ready! Here’s our chance!!!